How to Dress Like Emily in Paris on a Budget
Have you binge watched Emily in Paris yet? If you haven’t, girl you are missing out! The show is an incredibly charming look at the life of an American Expat in Paris. Of course the show takes plenty of creative liberties, but it still is wildly entertaining and a great weekend treat. The story is relatable and humorous, Lily Collins is drop dead gorgeous, and the dreamy Parisian scenery is everything you’d imagine. It’s no surprise it’s one of the top trending shows on Netflix. From the glow of the Eiffel Tour to the fresh baked pastries on display everywhere you look, the show will make you want to instantly sneak your way into Paris – travel bans be damned!
I’ve been lucky enough to have been to Paris several times, and the city always makes me want to take my style to the next level. One of the most important elements of the show is the fashion! Emily’s looks are bold, daring and feminine. She plays with texture, prints, accessories, and makeup in a way that pops at every angle. Her fashion choices aren’t the only note-worthy ones on the show. Her boss Sylvie and her best friend Camille channel that classic cool French sex appeal, and her other expat BFF Mindy has a wardrobe of whimsical fashion herself. But since Emily is the star of the show, I’m sharing my tips for how to channel her style, even if you are stuck here in the US doing Zoom calls all day!
Keep reading below to learn how to dress like Emily in Paris, on a normal girl’s budget!
1. Have fun and play with colors
As a New Yorker, black was pretty much my wardrobe staple. Since I moved to LA I’ve definitely lightened up a bit. One of the most noteworthy things about the fashion on Emily in Paris is how colorful it is! Emily wears everything from bright yellow to deep fuchsia. She balances the pop colors in her wardrobe with her makeup. One of the easiest ways to pull off Emily’s look is to wear colorful dresses, bonus points if they are in a unique silhouette. Now remember - this is not necessarily a French approach to fashion. If you look at Camille and Sylvie they are often wearing black, white, and a more neutral color palette. But Emily is a fish out of water, and her style is an interpretation of how an American expat sees French fashion. But a dress is always considered a basic in Paris, and the French know so many ways to style them. From mini to midi to maxi dresses, they are always on trend. Pick a pop color and style it with avant-garde finishing touches for that Emily in Paris look!
2. Incorporate texture and patterns into your looks
It may have been the seasons, but Emily got creative with the layering throughout the show Emily in Paris. Emily had a way of making her look more dynamic with the use of jackets, blazers, belts, and accessories. She also got adventurous with prints. There was always a ton of visual interest! I also noticed Emily was layering the majority of her looks. And a lot of the looks were layered with jackets/blazers of different textures. She also incorporated classic and fun elements and patterns, like plaids, tweeds, leathers, graphics as well as other textures. The layering made the outfits pop and gave the look more definition. Fall is the perfect season to play with layering the texture and patterns, so think about fun ways to work them in!
3. Be Generous with the Accessories
Your look just isn’t complete without the right accessories! The accessories in Emily in Paris took her looks over the top, in a good way. She was always wearing something that was the perfect finishing touch – a beret, a brooch, a scarf, or the notorious bag charm! Now, you won’t see many Parisians wearing beret hats, and they kind of scream tourist. But they are still irresistibly cute and looked perfect on Emily during her adventures in Paris. If you must don a hat, try a newsboy style like Camille for a more authentic and modern Parisian cool grl look.
4. Work in Some French Brands
The piece de resistance on Emily’s look was often a piece of wildly expensive French jewelry –Chanel brooch, Dior earrings, or designer version of an Eiffel Tour bag charm. Of course, these are expensive and impractical, but they are also a beautiful and subtle way to pay homage to a designer you love, without falling into logomania. Scout vintage stores or resale shops for some authentic designer finds on a budget. But there is no way to truly dress like Emily in Paris without indulging in some classic French designer duds!
Hope these tips help! Please note than no real Parisian women dress like Emily in Paris. Showing how she views French style is part of the fun of the show.
Have you been to Paris? Let me know your favorite things to do in Paris and how you plan to dress for your trip! And shop the story to get your Emily in Paris look on a normal girl’s budget!
